A smart residential circuit breaker includes a hybrid assembly that incorporates a solid-state circuit element integrated into a simplified mechanical pole having main contacts. The solid-state circuit element includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a micro SD reader to provide faster opening speeds. The smart residential circuit breaker is configured for use for different current levels and controlled by the PCB. The smart residential circuit breaker includes a mag-latch. The PCB is configured to send a signal to the mag-latch to open and close the main contacts within microseconds of detecting an over-current.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A smart circuit breaker comprising: a wireless communication module configured to communicate with an application (APP) stored on a mobile device of a user; a storage device to store a software module comprising instructions to be executed by a controller, the software module configured to monitor the smart circuit breaker for at least one of arc, ground fault, overload or increased instantaneous levels; a hybrid assembly that incorporates a solid-state circuit element integrated into a simplified mechanical pole having main contacts, wherein the solid-state circuit element includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a micro SD reader to provide a signal for faster opening speeds and wherein the smart circuit breaker is configured for use for different current levels and controlled by the PCB, and wherein the PCB includes a microprocessor and the software module comprising the instructions to communicate with the wireless communication module; a mag-latch, wherein the PCB is configured to send a signal to the mag-latch to open and close the main contacts within microseconds of detecting an over-current; and a micro SD card that determines an amp rating of the smart circuit breaker by a number of exposed active pins, wherein the software module is configured to identify the number of exposed active pins and based on one or more preset conditions identify the amp rating.
2. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the software module monitors the at least one of arc, ground fault, overload or increased instantaneous levels to communicate a breaker signal to the wireless communication module being a Wi-Fi module, wherein the breaker signal is then transmitted to a receiver in the mobile device being a cell phone such that the APP receives the breaker signal and displays predetermined information sent from the wireless communication module.
3. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein based on one or more preset conditions the mag-latch is activated to open the contacts of the smart circuit breaker.
4. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising: a push to test button to manually turn the smart circuit breaker ON or OFF.
5. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the APP is configured to send a first signal to the wireless communication module such that the software module receives the first signal from the APP in order to send a second signal to the mag-latch to open or close.
6. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the software module to determine an amp rating of the smart circuit breaker using a micro SD card such that a Wi-Fi module in the mobile device is configured to send a signal of an amperage rating to use in the smart circuit breaker to the wireless communication module of the PCB which sends a signal to the software module to program the amperage rating to use.
7. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication module is integrated into the smart circuit breaker to provide a signal to be received in the mobile device being a cell phone.
8. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the mag-latch is directly connected to a moveable contact arm with a contact and wherein the main contacts are separated using a signal that is sent to the mag-latch.
9. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising: a push to test button to manually send a signal to the mag-latch to open or close the main contacts.
10. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising: a display to visually show at least one of status and error messages of the smart circuit breaker.
11. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein a cradle to armature latch surface of the smart circuit breaker is not provided.
12. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein a bimetal of the smart circuit breaker is not provided and therefore does not require a thermal calibration in a factory.
13. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the smart circuit breaker provides a user with a direct breaker status without the need to locate and open a panel door.
14. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising: a first self-test module comprising instructions that if not functioning properly will automatically open the main contacts and disable the smart circuit breaker; and a second self-test module comprising instructions that if not functioning properly will prevent the mag-latch from receiving a signal to close the main contacts.
15. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the smart circuit breaker is configured to alert an end user that a breaker trip has occurred or that there is an issue with a circuit breaker operation.
16. The smart circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the smart circuit breaker is configured to provide an ability to change an amp rating by swapping out a micro SD card.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 2, 2018
October 6, 2020
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